Archive for the ‘doing good’ Category

If anything even approaching good is going to come from this disastrous economy it might be a new awareness about reusing stuff we already have. Reusing more means consuming less, and that translates into less going into landfills — not to mention more money in your pocket. Ka-ching!

If you like that idea but aren’t sure where to begin, check out this post on Zero Waste from Squidoo. There are dozens of ideas on everything from turning tin cans into lanterns and toys to reusing dryer lint (it’s a great way to get logs going in the fireplace — who knew?).

If you’re into gardening, the Squidoo article shows how to make seedling starter pots from empty paper towel or toilet paper rolls, similar to the ones shown above, but those are made from newspaper. Even if you only find one useable idea, it’s a start!

Like this:

WANTED: Thirty artists with a vision and love for animals to create one-of-a-kind tote bags to raise funds for Even Chance, a San Diego-based Pit Bull Rescue.

If you’re thinking something like, “But pit bulls are scary, dangerous dogs, ooooo, run away!” then it’s time to get acquainted with the truth. Example: Here’s one of the most famous “scary, dangerous” pit bulls ever:

That’s Petey the Pup, from the Little Rascals. Back when Petey was a star, in the 1920s and 30s, pit bulls were famous for being smart, energetic and great with kids. But of course, in those days, breeders were cautious about which dogs were paired, and kept a close eye on the temperament of offspring. More recently, bad breeding practices and owners who value the dogs for fighting rather than companionship have resulted in the current horrible situation, with thousands of pit bulls being mistreated and euthanized through no fault of their own.

Even Chance rescue group is working to change that image. Because the truth is, pit bulls are sweet, funny and loving dogs. Take one look at this face and tell me you don’t want to get a smooch from that pooch! (By the way, that’s Alaska, one of Even Chance’s recent happy adoptions.)

You can help Alaska and dogs like her by supporting Even Chance, especially if you’re artistically inclined. One of my favorite websites, GirlieGirlArmy, is teaming up with the group to sponsor Art for Pitties.

Here’s the deal: “Art for Pitties needs designers, pit owners, painters, animal advocates, illustrators and artists to personalize tote bags with one-of-a-kind artwork that will be auctioned online for charity.”

You can help by creating a tote bag, donating, or just passing the information on to others who may be interested. More details are available at the GirlieGirlArmy website (link above). And while you’re there, sign up for their free weekly newsletter, a great source of information for anyone interested in compassionate fashion (i.e., vegan) and other enlightened hipness.

Full disclosure: As you might have guessed by now, two of my best friends are pit bull mixes, so in this case, I actually know what I’m talking about — for a change.